Food influencer Christina Hart had to put her food-review work on hold after a severe case of cyclosporiasis disrupted her daily life and caused her to lose 17 pounds in four weeks. The Tennessee-based mother of two, 29, said the illness came as a shock because she never expected a parasite to be responsible for her symptoms.
Hart told WSMV that her symptoms began abruptly. She woke up one morning and repeatedly rushed to the bathroom. During the first week, the episodes occurred about every 30 minutes.
After seeking medical care, Hart announced her cyclosporiasis diagnosis on July 14 through Facebook, posting a photo from bed with the caption, “#Cyclospora has officially entered the chat.”
The diagnosis surprised her. “I wasn’t ever in a million years thinking I had a darn parasite,” Hart told The New York Times in an interview published Saturday, July 31.
Four weeks after receiving the diagnosis, she had lost 17 lbs., according to the outlet.
What Is Cyclosporiasis?
Cyclosporiasis is a gastrointestinal infection caused by the microscopic Cyclospora parasite. The illness can spread through contaminated food or water and commonly causes severe diarrhea.
According to information previously released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 18,000 confirmed or suspected cases had been reported across 45 states.
Two people in Michigan also died after contracting the illness, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said Monday, Aug. 3. Both individuals had pre-existing health conditions.
“Cyclosporiasis is generally not a life-threatening illness. Death resulting from cyclosporiasis is uncommon in the United States,” an MDHHS representative told PEOPLE.
Fresh produce has been linked to Cyclospora infections, including lettuce and raspberries. Hart regularly ate raspberries each morning, but she said there was no way to determine whether they caused her illness.
Her work made the situation especially difficult. As a food influencer who regularly reviews local restaurants and dishes, eating is closely connected to her content.
Symptoms can take as long as 14 days to appear after exposure. That delay can make it difficult to identify which food or drink carried the parasite.
Work Put on Hold
The illness forced Hart to postpone episodes and stop working while she dealt with persistent symptoms.
“It stopped my whole life,” Hart told WSMV. “I had to push back episodes. I had to stop working; it’s been rough.”
She also questioned whether the setback meant she should leave food reviewing behind. “It just makes you question: Is this what I’m supposed to do? Am I imagining it? Was this a sign that I’m supposed to stop?” she told The New York Times.
Her followers later encouraged her to keep sharing updates about her experience with cyclosporiasis. Although symptoms were still lingering, Hart told WSMV they had become less intense.
Hart eventually viewed the difficult experience from another angle. “This whole cyclospora thing — I thought it was actually a curse, but it ended up being a blessing,” she told The New York Times. “If poop is what lands me there. I guess that’s what lands me there.”
Hart’s experience highlights how quickly a food- or waterborne infection can interrupt normal routines. Cyclosporiasis can cause prolonged gastrointestinal symptoms, weight loss and significant disruption to work and daily activities. Because symptoms may appear days after exposure, identifying the source can be challenging.
For people experiencing persistent or severe gastrointestinal symptoms, medical evaluation can help determine whether an infection such as cyclosporiasis is involved.
